I, for one, would welcome him back w/ open arms. I don't care that he left, he was easily 1 of my favorite guys in the company, and was well on his way to becoming a great wrestler. He'd instantly bring a spark back to Smackdown, and would easily be the most over heel in the entire company. I'm still itching to see a full-on Brock/Benoit feud.

If he does come back, I just hope they don't job him out to "teach him a lesson" (*especially* to Taker/HHH/Orton), as that'd just kill any momentum he'd have.

Personally, I think he'll want to give 1 more try at the NFL next season. If he doesn't make it at that point, then I think he'd seriously consider coming back to the WWE.

Backstage stuff in wrestling doesn't affect my life, so Lesnar's decision to leave and pursue his dream of playing pro football doesn't matter to me.

As a fan who liked Lesnar's matches and the progress he'd made since his debut, I'd rather see Lesnar wrestling in the WWE than NOT wrestling in the WWE. Sometimes you have to leave someone/something in order to appreciate it more or just to clear your head.

Some wrestlers might hold Lesnar's decision against him, but what's good for business is all that it'll come down to. Vince will welcome Lesnar back if Lesnar wants back, but he'll take a paycut and have to go through some form of punishment. And if Lesnar returns, he likely realizes he'll be worse off than when he left, so I respect that.

Considering the woes in WWE as well as the fact that Vince has to try whatever it takes to bring back up ratings/buyrates/attendance/everything else, I doubt he'd have TOO much problems with welcoming Brock back. Brock would probably have to take a paycut, but that's about it.

"If you want me to watch the shows, buy tickets when you come to town, buy t-shirts, and pay for a PPV every three days, you bet your ass I'm going to hard to impress. And when you give me stuff that blows and then tell me I don't get a vote on sharing that opinion, I'm going to tell you to go catch an STD." - Hogan's My Dad

Hmmm.... it almost seems like reading that brief newsbit, they're talking about football (eg trying out again or something, I don't know). But it's impossible to say without some clarification.

That said, I think getting him back, if done right, could be huge.

Have him return as the "sell out" who left wrestling when he thought he could make more money at football. If WMXX showed us anything, it's that people hated him once they knew he was on his way out. It's the same mentality that (initially) worked for The Rock two years ago.

Not to mention that the minute he showed up, you could plug him into a main event (on either roster, really, though SmackDown clearly needs him). Which would be another plus....

He will no doubt be jobbed out for at least a year, and probably suffer worse scenerio's than wearing a wig, or making out with Mae Young. Vince is one sadistic MF'er, and I'm actually intruiged by what sort of punishment he'll receive. Rock jobbed to him clean, as did Hogan, and many other's, only to have Brock leave for a silly, unrealistic dream. I'm not saying to dump your dreams and ambitions, but what Brock did was pretty shitty, especially with the current state of the company.

The thing about Lesnar moving away from the WWE is that he's so young. He has tons of time to play around with other interests before possibly returning, and the WWE would be nuts to shun him.

But he's huge, he's funny (even unintentionally; we all miss "fine and dandy"), he's got the skills and he'll sell.

Having said that, I don't believe he should be plugged back into the main event immediately. I was burned out on him orbiting the belt for the better part of a year. If he Is put in the main event, he has to move away from Show, Angle and Eddy.

Considering Brock was reportedly purchasing a private plane and other toys before his abrupt departure in the early spring, perhaps he is realizing that without a spot on an NFL roster and without having many years of big money through wrestling/merchandising the money he earned in his brief run at the top isn't going to/hasn't last(ed) for long.

It is utter retardation to just put the guy who bailed on the company when they needed him most right back on top and job everyone out to him. That is going sodomize morale.Backstage dealings do effect our lives as fans, because demoralized workers don't do their best stuff in the ring. It's a really naive attitude to just say, yeah what I liked him, because that's how you get an Ultimate Warrior/Goldberg type ego where you have a guy that drew money but doesn't have the slightest bit of respect for the business.

I'd like to see an angle where Smackdown doesn't trust him because he bailed on them, so they trade him to RAW for a major player, like Jericho or Michaels or maybe Batista.

I'm not saying he shouldn't be brought back, but he should be in the mid-card at first. Not a HHH-style year of jobs, naturally, but a re-earning of respect process ought to be employed. His can still be big important feuds like Orton/Foley, but not main events. Also, he should have to sign a new deal for much less money since he blatantly breached his contract. If he's willing to agree to those terms, bring him on back, assuming this rumour is even remotrely credible.

Last line now shall later be first, since it's most important: "assuming this rumour is even remotrely credible."

It's from a Minnesota gossip columnist so I dunno, but I sure hope so.

"Also, he should have to sign a new deal for much less money since he blatantly breached his contract."

I think the original contract would've been null'n'voided when he quit, wouldn't it?

"he should be in the mid-card at first. Not a HHH-style year of jobs, naturally, but a re-earning of respect process ought to be employed."

I understand the thought process, but I don't know how you bring in Brock Lesnar and have him in feuds with RVD while you're running Bradshaw vs. Big Show main events. If Ricky Williams had gone back to the Dolphins, he'd be a pariah, but they wouldn't get him back by saying he has to the third-down back.

So there's a happy medium that would have to be reached where Lesnar comes back contrite, humbled, apologizes to everyone, and does not get put over everyone, but you still have to use him in a significant spot because a) he's fantastic, b) he's going to be hotter at the time he's brought back than anyone else on the show, c) he could get a ton of heat playing an "I'm too good for wrestling, the fans booed me at Wrestlemania, here comes the pain" character.

IF WWE brings Lesnar back in and jobs him out to anyone and everyone, that's even more proof that WWE has its head up its proverbial ass. I don't think that they'd do that, though, as it's painfully obvious they need a proven draw headlining Smackdown shows.

The only thing with this is, he needs to be a heel. However, they also need a new challenger for JBL, also a heel, so any new challenger would be a face. And I don't think Lesnar should be brought back as a face, especially after the way the fans reacted at WM XX.

I also wonder how much interest Lesnar brings to Smackdown at this point. Certainly, his very presence and skill will make him a hot commodity upon his return. But at the same time, if we assume, he'll be a heel, there are really no enw faces for him to feud with. He's had rounds with Big Show and the Undertaker, and one of his last big feuds was with Eddie Guerrero. He just hasn't been out that long for his mere presence to be able to draw big numbers, IMO.

However, a possible Cena vs Lesnar match at WM XXI may be just what the doctor ordered.

Lesnar's not a proven draw. I mean, I'm not busting on the idea of him returning-I thought he was dick for leaving, but the shows could use a shot in the arm right now-but it should be put into perspective just how much/how little it may mean in terms of business turnaround.

So here's what I would do: You bring him back, signed to SmackDown. He comes out, brags about how everything's gonna change now that the pain has returned, blah blah blah, making his in-ring comeback against Eddie Guerrero that night et cetera et cetera. THEN, throughout the night, you run little vignettes with all and sundry SmackDown workers letting Brock know just how little they think of him for turning his back on the sport. So, match-time comes, and Brock gets disqualified for use of a chair. He looks set to beat the piss outta Eddie, but heeeere's the whole f'n locker-room, laying a beating on him and sending him scurrying into the crowd angrily. So, next week he goes whinin' to GM Long (or whomever happens to be the role at the time), and the upshot is he gets himself traded to Raw for, say, Shawn Michaels and Christian. So out of it you get: Two viable stars for SmackDown who could use a change in direction, and rejuvenated Brock removed from the specific environment that drove him batshit in the firs tplace. It takes advantage of his return in a very roundabout way, using it to generate interest in the SmackDown brand without making it all about him, but so without damaging his marketability.

Once upon a time in China, some believe, around the year one double-ought three, head priest of the White Lotus Clan, Pai Mei was walking down the road, contemplating whatever it is that a man of Pai Mei's infinite power contemplates - which is another way of saying "who knows" - when a Shaolin monk appeared, traveling in the opposite direction. As the monk and the priest crossed paths, Pai Mei, in a practically unfathomable display of generosity, gave the monk the slightest of nods. The nod was not returned. Now was it the intention of the Shaolin monk to insult Pai Mei or did he just fail to see the generous social gesture? The motives of the monk remain unknown. What is known, are the consequences. The next morning Pai Mei appeared at the Shaolin Temple and demanded of the Temple's head abbot that he offer Pai Mei his neck to repay the insult. The Abbot at first tried to console Pai Mei, only to find Pai Mei was inconsolable. So began the massacre of the Shaolin Temple and all 60 of the monks inside at the fists of the White Lotus. And so began the legend of Pai Mei's five point palm exploding heart technique.

Originally posted by oldschoolhero"I don't think that they'd do that, though, as it's painfully obvious they need a proven draw headlining Smackdown shows."

Lesnar's not a proven draw. I mean, I'm not busting on the idea of him returning-I thought he was dick for leaving, but the shows could use a shot in the arm right now-but it should be put into perspective just how much/how little it may mean in terms of business turnaround.

So here's what I would do: You bring him back, signed to SmackDown. He comes out, brags about how everything's gonna change now that the pain has returned, blah blah blah, making his in-ring comeback against Eddie Guerrero that night et cetera et cetera. THEN, throughout the night, you run little vignettes with all and sundry SmackDown workers letting Brock know just how little they think of him for turning his back on the sport. So, match-time comes, and Brock gets disqualified for use of a chair. He looks set to beat the piss outta Eddie, but heeeere's the whole f'n locker-room, laying a beating on him and sending him scurrying into the crowd angrily. So, next week he goes whinin' to GM Long (or whomever happens to be the role at the time), and the upshot is he gets himself traded to Raw for, say, Shawn Michaels and Christian. So out of it you get: Two viable stars for SmackDown who could use a change in direction, and rejuvenated Brock removed from the specific environment that drove him batshit in the firs tplace. It takes advantage of his return in a very roundabout way, using it to generate interest in the SmackDown brand without making it all about him, but so without damaging his marketability.

The only problem, I see oldschoolhero's plan is that Brock obviously has an ego and Raw is not the place with an ego considering who runs it. It would be nice to get something for Brock to Smackdown since he ran out of fueds there and I don't Taker, Big Show or Kurt will job to him again. Brock/Batista would be off the hook, but until Brock comes back and he takes the punishment like a man than its all speculation. I don't think he was much of a draw either even though he started coming into his own. I just think Brock is a prime example why you don't push young stars to the moon. I could care less if he comes back, but he does he will have to job for at least a year to most of the main event and midcard, but he should get an occasional win here or there to at least keep him marketable and happy.

Originally posted by A Fanbut he does he will have to job for at least a year to most of the main event and midcard, but he should get an occasional win here or there to at least keep him marketable and happy.

What's the point? Doing that effectively makes him "just another wrestler", which isn't what the WWE needs. I'm not saying giving him a Goldberg-like undefeated streak, but jobbing him to the D-Von's and Grenier's seems extremely counterproductive.

I don't understand why some people think having someone enter a fed a dominating is such a bad thing.

I've seen two major booms in the wrestling industry.

The first one began when a relative unknown named Hulk Hogan was signed by Vince in 1980. In his first match, he beat Andre the Giant. He dominated right from the start.

The second boom began when WCW signed Nash and Hall and had them dominate and embarass the entire fed.

People need to see a compelling storyline. Watching "Jeopardy!" is boring. Watching "Jeopardy!" when Ken Jennings steps in and dominates out of nowhere attracts a big audience.

I've been beating this drum for years on this forum. The big mistake Vince made was going to Crash TV style where titles jump around and no one-wrestler has any momentum. Its not compelling. There is no "Ken Jennings".

I'm not saying Brock Lesnar can be that guy. But, that is what is missing. Once you get that, you can get up your huge signature matchups that you tease everyone with for months on end.

I could see the brand extension working IF it produced an environment condusive to monster characters. For that to happen tho, people switching brands needs to be a rare event. Perhaps you could set up a situation where a rare jump happens and they person who jumps dominates in the new brand. That's basically where the success of the monday night wars was.

I think they should do a compelling long term storyline, but Orton/HHH by themselves is not compelling. To be honest, neither was Brock's run in the WWE. He did not sell out arenas, the buyrates didn't soar out of the atmosphere and ratings didn't spike. Crash TV gets knocked for not having long term booking which is crap. Austin/McMahon is perhaps the best storyline in the last ten years, why because it got everyone involved and kept the fans interested. It elevuated Kane, Rock, Foley and Austin as main eventers. The title switches kept everyone interested and gave it a what will happen next feel which the fans tuned in for. The highest ratings the WWE ever got was during the Attitude era, not with Brock as champ. Brock was never the next big thing, he was the next big hype that actually wrestle. After he won at Wrestlemania 19, there was nothing left for him kept fight Big Show for tenth time in a row. Even when he faced Cena at Backlash, the fans were chanting for Cena and he was heel. Brock was a huge disappointment and just kept the status quo of big men winning the belt with Kurt's fluke win. He didn't even have the MOTY with Kurt, Benoit did in 2003 and it took another 15 months before Benoit actually saw the title.

The title switches were used to help the main story of Austin vs. McMahon going. McMahon used wrestlers to stop Austin, but it eventually lead to other people like Taker, Foley and DX getting involved. The idea that anything can happen and maybe someone will win the title on Raw instead of wasitng $35 to see HHH go over someone again is where the problem is. People watched Jeorady to see if they could would lose and now that he is gone, Jeapordy's ratings are good, but not where they were. Running a long term program with only two guys or even one guy is a giant mistake. By the end of the NWO storyline, WCW was near bankruptcy, because it was the same show every night for almost three years straight. NWO comes in, WCW faces try to unite or stand their way, face gets beaten down by NWO or saved by Sting, that was about it.

I have no problems with long term booking, but the WWE doesn't do it well. They should stick with outline booking. Present, here is where we are and here is where we want to be. Now, how do we get there and how many stars can we make doing it. If you say, two then forget about it. This month's booking has proven kept Raw on a steady ratings for a month in a time when they get rocked by Monday Night Football. Orton/HHH is not compelling by itself, you do the Crash TV element by throwing HHH losing the title, Edge and Batista get some huge matches out of it, Lita gets the title and you throw in Benoit and Jericho its a winner. Orton/HHH was not doing anything, but now with all these elements is interesting to watch. Crash TV works for the WWE, because if instead of dreading Orton/HHH at mania, I'll be ok with it if I get a great midcard to follow. If Brock comes back and shakes things up a bit good, but he should not be in anything but the midcard till the end of next year. In my opinion, he clogged up the main event picture too much on Smackdown when Benoit, Eddie, Edge and even Rey deserved to get some main event shots.

It happened on RAW August 9, 1999 ("well Kane's got two words for us - and WITHOUT the voicebox! Kane says "suuuuuckiiit" in his endearing, voiceboxless monotone.") and Russo jumped to WCW in early October 1999.